Scandinavia awarded a Mother's Day bouquet

WASHINGTON — The best country in the world to be a mother is Sweden, according to Save the Children, a global relief and development organization. Denmark and Norway tied for second place.

Coming in last is Niger, at No. 117. Burkina Faso also ranks low, and the United States is only 11th best.

The group published its State of the World's Mothers 2003 report a few days before Mother's Day, basing the index on 10 measures related to the health of women and their children, education and political status.

The United States earned its 11th place rank this year based on several factors, including maternal and infant mortality.

The U.S. also lags with regard to the political status of women. Only 14 percent of seats in the U.S. national government are held by women, compared to 45 percent in Sweden, 38 percent in Denmark and 37 percent in Finland.

Save the Children also noted that fewer than 15 percent of births are attended by trained personnel in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Nepal.